Wristband pill carrying device



1961 F. w. HUMPHNER WRISTBAND PILL CARRYING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 5, 1958 k? v MENTOR! ATTORNE Nov. 21, 1961 F. w. HUMPHNER3,009,614

WRISTBAND PILL CARRYING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N 1 5N TOR.

3 aw, ywwg/ ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofiice Patented Nov. 21, 1961- 3,009,614 WRISTBANDPILL CARRYING DEVICE Ferdinand W. Humphner, 1201 Park Ave., RiverForest, Ill.

Filed May 5, 1958, Ser. No. 733,050 6 Claims. (Cl. 224-28) Thisinvention relates to a pill carrying device, and more specifically, to awristband container adapted for the carrying and dispensing of capsules,tablets and the like. 1

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a compactpill carrying device adapted to be worn on the wrist, so that anecessary medicament is at all times readily accessible to the wearer.The invention has particular utility for persons who must have a supplyof capsules or tablets immediately available to them because ofa chronicailment or because of a condition which might manifest itself in anattack or symptomatic outbreak at any time. Another object is to providea compact and convenient wristband pill container capable of containingpills of dilferent sizes and shapes. In this connection, it is aspecific object to provide a pill container equipped with means forholding the pills in place so that they will not shift about and chip orbreak within the closed container. A further object is to provide a pillcontainer and dispenser to be worn on the wrist which may be easilymanipulated to expose and hold the pills for their removal. A stillfurther object is to provide, in combination with a pill dispenser,guide means for removal of the pills one at a time. Other objects willappear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a wristband pillcarrying device embodying the present invention; FIGURE 2 is an enlargedbroken perspective view of the device showing the cover in open ordispensing position; FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of thecontainer with the closure member thereof in closed position; FIGURE 4is a vertical cross-section of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 3;FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a wristband pill carrying devicecomprising a second embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 6 is anenlarged longitudinal vertical section of the device shown in FIGURE 5;FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment showing thestructure in pill dispensing condition; and FIGURE 8 is an enlargedcross-sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG- URE 6..

'In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIG- URE l, thenumeral 10 generally designates a wristband pill carrying devicecomprising a wristband 11 and a container or carrier 12. While anexpandable multiple link wristband is shown in the drawings, it will beunderstood that other types of wristbands may be used. Generally, any ofthe difierent types of straps or hands commonly used in connection withwrist watches may be usedincombination with the pill container of thepresent invention.

As shown most clearly in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the container 12 iselongated and is longitudinally curved to conform with the curvature ofa wearers wrist. The elongated container comprises a body 13, a hingedcover or closure member 14, and a resilient liner or cushion 15.

From FIGURES 2 and 4 it will be seen that the container body 13 ischannel shaped and has a generally U- shaped cross-section. Thelongitudinally curved bottom wall 16 and the upstanding parallel sidewalls 17 of the container body may be formed integrally from a singleelongated sheet of metal or other suitable material. At opposite ends ofthe body, the side walls 17 are provided with transversely alignedapertures for receiving the laterally biased pins 18 of transverseconnecting sleeves 19. As

shown in FIGURE 3, the terminal links of wristband 11 are provided withcylindrical end portions 20 which rotatably receive the connectingsleeves 19 at the opposite ends of the container body. The connectingsleeves and the concentric end portions of the terminal linkssubstantially close the ends of the arcuate channel shaped body 13 andeliminate the need for providing the body with ends walls. However, if amore complete closure at the ends of the container body is desired, itwill be understood that upstanding end walls may be provided.

Like the body 13, the elongated cover 14 is channel shaped and isprovided with parallel depending side walls 21 and a longitudinallycurved top wall 22. The transverse distance between the opposing innersurfaces of depending side walls 21 is substantially the same as theexternal width of the channel shaped body 13 so that when the cover isin closed position its side walls snugly engage the upstanding walls ofthe body and frictionally lock the parts in closed condition. At one endof the cover the side walls 21 are apertured to receive the ends ofconnecting pins 18 so that the connecting sleeve and pin assembly at oneend of the container not only forms an attachment for Wristband 11 butalso provides a pivotal hinge mounting for cover 14. Preferably, thecovers top wall at the end opposite from the hinge connection isprovided with a lip or extension 23. Since the lip projects slightlybeyond the corresponding end of the container body 13, and is disposedabove the adjacent end portion 20 of the wristband, a wearer desiring toopen the container may easily catch lip 23 with his fingernail and swingthe cover about its pivotal connection. If desired, the side walls ofthe cover adjacent the free end thereof may be turned slightly inwardlyto increase the frictional resistance between the cover and bodyadjacent lip 23.

Cushion 15 lines the bottom wall of body 13 and is secured thereto by asuitable adhesive. The cushion may be formed from sponge rubber or fromany other suit able resilient and deformable materials or a combinationof such materials. The upper exposed surface of the resilient cushionshould be relatively smooth so that pills or tablets carried within thecontainer will not cling to the cushion when the cover is open.

In the illustration given I have shown a plurality of tablets 24 carriedby the container although it will be understood that capsules or pillsof diiferent shapes and sizes may also be supported within the containerand dispensed therefrom. When the cover 14 is closed, tablets 24 arepressed downwardly against the resilient cushion 15 and are firmly heldin place within the container. Thus, the compressed cushion coacts withthe closed cover to prevent the pills from sliding about within thechamber and to prevent damage or chipping of the pills which mightotherwise result if they were free to slide within the closed container.Furthermore, since the pills or tablets are held firmly in place withinthe container they cannot rattle and thereby distract the wearer;

When one or more tablets 24 are to be removed from the container, thewearer simply turns his wrist so that the container extends in agenerally vertical direction ther than the general right angledrelationship with the body 13 as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The upstanding side walls and the open free end of the inverted opencover define a channel for supporting the exposed tablets and forfacilitating their removal by the user. To remove one or more tablets,the wearer simply slides them outwardly off of the lip end of the coverwith the fingers of his free hand. It will be noted that when the coveris in its fully opened or generally horizontal position (FIGURE 2) itslongitudinal curvature or concave configuration, coupled with theupstanding side walls 21, serve to retain the tablets upon the insidesurface of cover wall 22. It has been found that even when the containeris fully opened in the manner illustrated, con siderable movement of thearm upon which the wristband is worn is permitted without fear that thetablets or pills will fall off of the cover.

From the foregoing it is believed apparent that the structure of thepresent invention constitutes a particularly convenient and effectivedevice for holding and dispensing tablets and other types of pills. Whenthe container is closed, the pills carried within the lined chamber arefully protected against breakage or damage resulting from impact forcesdirected against or transmitted to that container. When a wearer desiresto remove one or more of the pills, the cover may be readily opened inthe described manner to expose and support all of the pills so that anydesired number may he slid outwardly and removed from thechannel-providing cover.

In the modification illustrated in FIGURES 5 through 8 cover 25 iscomposed of a pair of longitudinally curved channel members 26 and 27hingedly connected at 28 by pins or by any other suitable means. Theside walls 29 of the outer cover member 26 and the corresponding sidewalls 30 of the inner cover member 27 both face in the same direction.The lateral dimensions of the outer cover section are greater than thecorresponding dimensions of the inner member or section so that thelatter section will nest within the channel defined by the former.Between the two sections may be carried an instruction sheet 31indicating the character of the medicament within the container body 13and setting forth the conditions of its administration. If desired, theinstructions may be imprinted directly upon the outer surface of theinner cover section rather than upon a separate removable sheet. In anyevent, such instructions will be available to one who may not befamiliar with the physical condition of the wearer and may not know whatto do in an emergency. If the wearer is subject to attacks which mightlead to unconsciousness, it is desirable to provide the outer surface ofcover section 26 with suitable indicia indicating the utilitariancharacter of the wristband and also indicating 'where it may be openedto expose the pills and the instructions for their administration. Forthis purpose, I have shown the outer cover section provided with a cross32 and hearts 33 representing the nature of the ailment and thecharacter of the drug within the container. Also, the ends of the outercover section are preferably inscribed or imprinted with letters orwords 34 and 35 indicating that instructions will be exposed if one endof the cover is lifted whereas the pills will be exposed if the oppositeend of that cover is lifted.

The body 13 of the container is identical to the structure alreadydescribed in connection with the first embodiment shown in FIGURES 1through 4. However, the cushion 36 in the modified structure is composedof two elements: a resilient body 37 and a smooth liner 38 which may beadhesively secured to the cushion body or, as indicated in the drawingsto the bottom wall 16 of the con tainer body 13. The cushion body 37 maybe formed of some compressible fibrous material such as cotton, or fromrubber or any other resilient material. The outer liner 38 is preferablyformed from a plastic sheet having a smooth or slick outer surface sothat the pills will not cling to that liner when the cover 25 is opened.Cellophane has been found particularly effective although it will beunderstood that other materials having similar properties may be used.

When pills are to be dispensed from the modified structure, the entirecover (comprising sections 26 and 27) is swung into the open positionillustrated in FIGURE 7 about the pivotal connection 18 between thecontainer body and the inner section 27 of the cover. The two coversections remain in nested condition because of the snug frictionalengagement between the outer surfaces of side walls 30 and the innersurfaces of side walls 29. Thus, the pills 39 may be exposed and removedfrom the channel-shaped cover 25 in the same manner described inconnection with the structure illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4. Itwill be noted, however, that in the second embodiment I provide a pairof converging guide members 40 adjacent the free end of cover 25 tochannel the pills 39 so that they may be readily dispensed one by one.In other words, the nearest ends of the guide members 40 are spacedapart a distance only slightly greater than the width of a single pillcarried within the container and supported by the cover when thecontainer is opened. It will also be noted that the guide members 40 arenot as high as the side walls 29 and 30 of the cover sections and thatthey are even lower than the vertical dimensions of the pills 39.Consequently, a user may easily move his finger over the pills supportedby the open cover and slide them towards and through the restrictedopening defined by the converging guide members 40.

In other respects the construction of the second embodiment is identicalto the first. Both structures provide a cover hinged at one end to thebody portion of a container and with a resilient cushion mounted withinthat body portion for urging pills into contact with the cover when thatcover is closed. Hence, the covers and cushions in both forms cooperatewith the pills carried within the container bodies for preventingmovement and abrasion of the pills when the containers are closed. It isto be understood that the channel members 40, as well as the two partresilient cushion 36 and indicia 32-35 may also be used in connectionwith a device having a cover with only a single section as illustratedin FIGURES 1 through 4.

It will also be noted that in both forms of the invention illustrated inthe drawings the covers are longitudinally curved and are channelshaped. As a result, the pills tend to assume central positions upon thecovers when the devices are in pill dispensing condition (FIGURES 2 and7), thereby simplifying their removal and greatly reducing thepossibility that any of the pills might drop or be inadvertently pushedfrom the covers. Also, the concave character of the covers facilitatesthe collection of pills as they drop free from the pads or cushions whenthe covers are opened in the manner already described. In thisconnection, it will be noted that the convex curvature of the padsurfaces against which the pills are normally pressed further promotes acomplete transfer of all of the pills to the channel shaped covers asthose covers are swung into horizontal open positions.

While I have disclosed the structure of the present invention inconsiderable detail for purposes of illustration, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that many of these details may be variedwidely without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A pill carrying device adapted to be worn on a users wrist comprisinga container having a body portion and a channel-shaped cover, meansattached to said container for supporting the same in acircumferentiallyextending direction upon a users wrist, said coverbeing hingedly connected at one end thereof to said body portion formovement between open and closed positions, stop means for limitingopening movement of said cover beyond a generally right angle positionwith reference to said body portion, whereby, when a user turns hiswrist so that said body extends in a generally vertical direction withthe hinged connection of said cover disposed at the bodys lower end,said cover when opened provides a horizontally extending trough forsupporting pills in exposed condition, said cover having a smooth innersurface for slidably supporting pills and having longitudinallyextending side walls terminating at the covers free end topermit pillsto be slid off of said free end when said cover is in open horizontalposition, and a resilient cushion secured to said body within saidcontainer for restraining movement and attrition of said pills when saidcover is closed.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said cover is longitudinally curvedto provide a longitudinally concave trough for retaining pills when saidcover is in horizontal Open position.

3. A pill carrying device adapted to be worn on a users wrist comprisinga container having an elongated body portion and an elongatedchannel-shaped cover together defining a pill-carrying chamber, meansattached to said container for supporting the same in acircumferentiallyextending direction upon a users wrist, said coverbeing hingedly connected at one end thereof to said body portion formovement between open and closed positions, stop means for limitingopening movement of said cover beyond a generally right angle positionwith reference to said body portion, whereby, when a user turns hiswrist so that said body extends in a generally vertical direction withthe hinged connection of said cover disposed at the bodys lower end,said cover when opened provides a horizontally extending trough forsupporting pills in exposed condition, said cover having a smooth hardinner surface for slidably supporting pills and having longitudinallyextending side walls terminating at the covers free end to permit pillsto he slid off of said free end when said cover is in open horizontalposition, and a resilient cushion mounted within said body portion andhaving a smooth pill engaging surface for urging pills into firm contactwith the hard inner surface of said cover when the same is closed andthereby preventing movement and attrition of said pills within saidchamber when the closed container is Worn 'by a user.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which said cushion comprises an innerresilient body and a smooth outer liner mounted thereon.

5. The structure of claim 3 in which said cover is longitudinally curvedto provide a longitudinally concave trough for retaining pills when saidcover is in horizontal open position.

6. A pill carrying device adapted to be Worn on a users wrist comprisinga container having an elongated body portion and an elongatedchannel-shaped cover together defining a pill-carrying chamber, meansattached to said container for supporting the same in acircumferentially-extending direction upon a users Wrist, said coverbeing hingedly connected at one end thereof to said body portion formovement between open and closed positions, stop means for limitingopening movement of said cover beyond a generally right angle positionwith reference to said body, whereby, when a user turns his Wrist sothat said body extends in a generally vertical direction with the hingedconnection of said cover disposed at the bodys lower end, said coverwhen opened provides a horizontally-extending trough for supportingpills in exposed condition, said cover having a smooth inner surface forslidably supporting pills and having longitudinally-extending side wallsterminating at the covers free end to permit pills to he slid oil? ofsaid free end when said cover is in open horizontal position, said coveralso being provided on the inner surface thereof and adjacent its freeend with guide means for guiding the movement of pills in single fileoil? of the covers free end when said cover is in its open horizontalposition, and a resilient cushion mounted within said body portion andhaving a smooth pill-engaging surface for urging pills into contact withthe inner surface of said cover when the same is closed and therebypreventing movement and attrition of said pills within said chamber whenthe closed container is worn by a user.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,061,954 Bloch May 13, 1913 1,594,215 Sides July 27, 1926 1,835,793Lurie Dec. 8, 1931 2,255,999 Kuehner Sept. 16, 1941 2,282,908 ThompsonMay 12, 1942 2,473,226 Sheldon June 14, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 367,017Great Britain Feb. 15, 1932

